Rollable ring game device



March 1, 1966 MASTERS ROLLABLE RING GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1964 3 W b-/m\/ on 9 7. r EE United States Pte :11:

3,237,947 ROLLABLE RING GAME DEVICE Harold Hayward Masters, Veterans Home, R0. Box 74, Napa County, Calif. Filed Sept. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 399,407 1 Claim. (Cl. 273128) The idea is to provide a game apparatus in which a cylindrical playing piece is rolled over a marked play surface 7, FIG. 3, for stopping in a turned position which is predetermined by the conformation of the piece.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the playing piece at rest on the playing surface.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate position of said playing piece on the playing surface.

FIG. 3 shows a playing surface having scoring areas over which the playing piece can roll.

FIG. 4 shOWS the playing piece in the position shown in FIG. 2.

A playing piece 1, FIG. 1, of interest essentially comprises a body 2, FIG. 1, which is formed as a section of a tube having a relatively short gap or aperture, 5, FIG. 2, extending transversely thereof and defined between mutually spaced gap or aperture faces 3a, FIG. 4, of the body 2, FIG. 1. The plane of the outer corners 4, FIG. 4, of the aperture faces 3a, FIG. 4, defines a support plane for the playing piece which is closer to the center thereof than the outer body face 2a, FIG. 1. The arrangement essentially provides for a tendency of the playing piece 1, FIG. 1, to stop, while rolling, in a position in which it is supported by the corners or aperture points 4, FIG. 4, it being understood that the center of gravity of the piece is then lowest.

A competitive .game may be played with the present pieces by rolling the same over a support surface 6, FIG. 2, provided by a table top 7, FIG. 3, or the like, on which scoring lines 8, FIG. 3, are delineated, the purpose being to provide for the stopping of -a piece when the gap or aperture 5, FIG. 1, is directly over the scoring line 8, FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, having the lowest scoring value; namely, the numeral 1 of four scoring numerals (l235) 9, FIG. 3, located along the center line of the table top 7, FIG. 3. Score increases may be obtained in a like manner using the scoring lines of numerically increasing values. A present playing piece may be made of iron, steel, or other heavy material and has a diameter of about 6 inches.

Means may be provided for adjusting the position of the center of gravity of a piece 11, FIG. 4, with respect to the axis of its peripheral circle. As particularly illustrated, mutually parallel members 19, FIG. 1, extend as chords across the space within the body 2, FIG. 1, at opposite sides of and parallel to .a diametric plane bisecting the aperture or ,gap 5, FIG. 1, and adjustably carry a counter-balance weight 11, FIG. 4, having a weight which would fill the gap 5, FIG. 1.

As particularly shown, the counter-balance member 11, FIG. 4, is rectangular and is provided with mutually parallel and diametric openings 12, FIG. 4, which complementarily and slidably receive the members 10, FIG. 1, set screws, not shown, are mounted in the counterbalance 11, FIG. 4, for securing the counter-balance in adjusted position along the members 10*, FIG. 1. By adjusting the counter-balance 11, FIG. 4, along the members 19, FIG. 1, with respect to the axis of the peripheral cylinder of the playing piece, the tendency of the rolling piece to stop may be adjusted with respect to the rolling inertia thereof. The counter-balance might have sections independently adjustable along the members 10, FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, 7 is the playing surface, 8 shows the scoring lines, 9 shows the scoring value marl;- ers, and 13 shows the live rubber rebound cushions.

The petitioner for the gaming device, herein described, presents the following claim for the said device:

A playing piece for a game comprising an annular split ring, means provided in said ring to allow the ring to roll across a fiat surface about its periphery and come to rest without being upset, the spacing area between the ends of the split portion of the annular ring having adjacent fiat portions about the periphery of the ring so that the ring can come to a rest with the spacing area between the split portion directly engaging the flat surface, weight means mounted internally of the ring, means to vary the position of said weight means so as to change the center of gravity of the ring and thereby vary the amount of skill required to roll the ring to a rest position wherein the spacing area between the split portion of the ring directly engages the fi-at surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,704 3/1921 Miller 273-128 1,536,510 5/1925 McGrath et al. 273l28 XR 2,075,619 3/1937 Klernin 273137 XR 2,580,616 1/1952 Spiegel 273-128 XR 2,859,968 11/1958 Modica 273l28 XR RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

